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“Cancer doesn’t care if you are pregnant, what you do for work, what kind of house you live in, whether you are too young or whether you look healthy,” said Tania.

Sisters Tania and Mindy, both found out that they had two very important things in common. Not only did they both have Stage III bowel cancer, but they had also inherited a genetic mutation which gave them an increased chance of developing certain cancers during their lifetime, often at a younger age than the general population. One of these cancers is commonly bowel cancer, and the inherited genetic mutation is called Lynch Syndrome.

Typically, patients are diagnosed well before the age of 50. At 34 and 33 both Tania and Mindy are not unusual in being diagnosed at such a young age. In fact, this can be a hinderance when trying to have their symptoms taken seriously. “I was told multiple times I was too young to have bowel cancer,” said Tania.

Treatment was gruelling and difficult and has left both sisters with long term issues. However, they are staunch supporters of each other and determined to raise awareness of bowel cancer and Lynch syndrome.

Lynch Syndrome can be inherited from either parent and is caused by a fault in one of the genes known as a ‘mismatch repair’ gene.

In Tania and Mindy's case, their mother and grandmother were both diagnosed with multiple cancers throughout their lifetime (including bowel cancer). 

Medical guidelines recommend universal testing of all bowel cancers for Lynch syndrome.

You can read each of their stories at: Michèle's Story, Tania's Story and Mindy's Story.
READ MORE ABOUT LYNCH SYNDROME
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The countdown to Bowel Cancer Awareness Month has begun.

Now is the time to take a few minutes to start planning!

1. Be the messenger and order awareness resources
2. Host a Red Apple Day themed event/fundraiser
3. Organise a Rear in Gear workplace presentation
4. Raise funds by selling Bowel Cancer Awareness Ribbons
5. Donate to help beat bowel cancer

Find out how you can get involved in Bowel Cancer Awareness Month to help us to raise funds and awareness.
FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED
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Wake Up. Kick Bowel Cancer's Ass. Repeat.

Bowel cancer is the third deadliest cancer for women, with 7,033 new cases diagnosed a year.⁠

Big thanks to everyone who helped us raise awareness of bowel cancer in women this March for International Women's Day, and shared their empowering lived-experiences.

Celebrating all the kick ass Aussie women living with or beyond bowel cancer. Women who have been recently diagnosed, are just starting treatment, doing everything you can to kick bowel cancer's ass every day with stage 1, 2, 3 or 4, living with advanced disease, now beyond bowel cancer, and all the special women we remember in our hearts.

Everyday Bowel Cancer Australia is working to kick bowel cancer's butt, and we appreciate your help. You all kick ass!
READ MORE KICK ASS STORIES HERE
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LAST CHANCE to enter to win!⁠ Go in the draw to win a $250,000 Prize Package and hundreds of other prizes. ⁠With $5 from every raffle ticket donated directly to Bowel Cancer Australia, it is a Win-Win. ⁠Simply get your Play For Purpose ticket before 08:00pm AEST on 24 March 2022. Purchase your raffle ticket now using Bowel Cancer Australia’s dedicated Play For Purpose webpage.⁠
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We're seeking a Bowel Care Oncology Social Worker to join our growing team, and offer practical and emotional support to patients throughout the care continuum. Providing further cancer-focused support to improve the psychosocial wellbeing of people with living with and beyond bowel cancer. Enabling equity of access to personalised care and tailored support nationwide. Find out more here.
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“The symptoms of bowel cancer and pregnancy overlap, and therefore the former is being missed. Often by the time it is diagnosed, it’s advanced and the odds of survival are heavily stacked against these young women." Pregnancy-associated bowel cancer refers to the instance when the initial diagnosis is made during pregnancy or within 12mths of delivery, and is distinct from bowel cancer in the general population.
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